chapter_0008

7 – Don’t Apply!

7 – Don’t Apply!

After a long journey, I returned to the headquarters from the Bardenplatz plain, expressing my fatigue with every part of my body as I got out of the car.

“I’m dying…”

I had been on the move for almost three days straight, excluding meals and rest.

For someone like me, who found the physical tests at the military academy particularly grueling, this was an absurdly demanding schedule.

Thus, I had wanted to avoid going to the East as much as possible, but hearing that oil had been discovered, I had no choice but to inspect it myself.

In the end, the black liquid found in the Bardenplatz plain was indeed oil.

“Well… that’s to be expected.”

Unless the logistics personnel were fools, they wouldn’t be unable to distinguish between sewage and oil.

Still, the reason I went on the inspection was to keep the headquarters’ interest in me from waning even slightly.

It would seem more like a rookie’s effort to be bustling about to verify whether it was real or not, rather than sitting in the operations room as if the discovery of oil was a given.

That said, my achievements wouldn’t fade because of it.

Sighing, I loosened my tie and walked toward the headquarters building.

Due to my fatigue, I wanted nothing more than to lie down on my dormitory bed immediately, but as a soldier, I couldn’t skip the return report.

–

“Ah! Lieutenant Daniel Steiner! Welcome.”

As I entered the operations chief’s office and saluted, Ernst greeted me with a kind smile.

I shouldn’t be deceived by that kind smile. Maintaining my salute, I opened my mouth.

“I have a report! As a result of the inspection conducted at the rear line of the Eastern Front in the Bardenplatz plain…”

“Oil has been discovered, right? That’s something the headquarters, as well as the citizens of the Empire, already know, so there’s no need for a separate report. Just relax.”

Having received permission, there was no need to salute anymore.

I lowered my hand with precision and assumed a position of attention.

“Everyone has been praising you lately, Lieutenant. The higher-ups feel the same way. Finding an oil deposit is an achievement that not only I but even the esteemed ones have failed to accomplish.”

“You’re exaggerating.”

In fact, it was truly an exaggeration. I hadn’t found it out of my own desire.

However, Ernst seemed to think I was being modest and chuckled softly.

“There have been many suggestions to promote you in light of this. I agree with that stance. However, due to some opposition, the process hasn’t gone smoothly.”

“Opposition?”

“Yes. On the surface, they argue that someone without combat experience shouldn’t be promoted twice in such a short period, but it seems they harbor some resentment toward your background.”

Ernst was speaking indirectly, but it appeared that some figures in the military leadership were arguing that they shouldn’t give more power to someone like me, an orphan.

I understood.

Even though the Kingdom of Bavaria had changed its name to the “Holy Bavarian Empire” and abolished class discrimination, remnants of that discrimination still lingered deeply.

Currently, most of the influential figures in the Empire came from noble families, and some regions were still referred to as baronial and count domains.

In such an era, it was only natural that an orphan who had accumulated achievements would not be viewed favorably, despite the nominal “law against class discrimination.”

If I hadn’t awakened the memories of my past life, I might have reacted angrily, but now they simply appeared as grateful people to me.

They were saying they would block my promotion? I felt like I wanted to bow to them in gratitude.

“If that is the opinion of the higher-ups, I will comply.”

As I calmly spoke, having not been affected much, Ernst looked at me with a face full of admiration.

“I thought you would get angry, but you’re impressive. Is this what it means to be a model soldier? I understand why Brigadier Heinrich holds you in high regard.”

Ernst, who chuckled heartily, suddenly looked at me with a serious expression.

“It would be a proper society for a highly regarded individual to hold a corresponding rank, wouldn’t it, Lieutenant?”

Feeling an atmosphere that suggested I shouldn’t refuse, I nodded.

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“I’m glad we share the same opinion. In that sense, you will be going to the Northern Front.”

…The Northern Front? What are you talking about all of a sudden? I hesitated for a moment due to the abruptness and then hurriedly spoke.

“The Northern Front, you say?”

“Yes. As you know, the tide of victory on the Northern Front has shifted in our favor. It’s the perfect time for you to make your mark. If what the higher-ups want is combat experience, then we can provide that, can’t we?”

While Ernst was subtly suggesting that he had pulled some strings for me, it didn’t resonate with me at all.

From the perspective of someone who wanted to be discharged, being told, “You should go fight at the front lines,” would make anyone want to scream.

Still, I couldn’t show my feelings, so I cautiously asked.

“Is this a reassignment? Am I to be attached to a unit on the Northern Front…?”

“Of course not. You’ll be deployed to a direct headquarters unit. Experience combat there and return immediately. Then Brigadier Heinrich and I will push for your promotion.”

As if to say I could look forward to it, Ernst leaned forward and whispered.

“If that happens, you will no longer be the ‘acting’ operations officer. You will be the operations officer. You will also have an aide, making your work much easier than before.”

In short, he was saying they had laid the groundwork for me, so just endure a little hardship and come back.

Why are you proceeding with things on your own! I wanted to shout, but the wall of rank was far too high.

Still, there was a glimmer of hope.

“Chief of Operations, what will the composition of the direct unit be?”

“Considering your current rank, it will be at the platoon level.”

“If that’s the case, may I select the personnel myself?”

Directly? Ernst blinked a few times in surprise before clasping his hands together.

“There’s no reason you can’t. Who do you plan to select?”

“I intend to select mainly from the rear, as the front lines are already suffering from manpower issues.”

“Do you have any specific individuals in mind?”

“No. I will draft a notice and accept applications, then select personnel from among them. The opportunity to perform in battle should be equally available to everyone.”

Seemingly pleased with my response, Ernst nodded with admiration.

“That’s a good idea. Proceed with that.”

“Understood.”

Saluting Ernst, I left the chief of operations’ office and went to my desk to sit down.

Immediately, I took out my fountain pen and began drafting the notice.

“Recruitment Notice for Northern Front Support Troops”

Listen up!

A fierce battle to protect our noble homeland is currently underway in the North!

Therefore, I seek those willing to sacrifice their lives for the Empire!

O ye! Do not covet the Empire’s grain while alive, but become the foundation that adorns the Empire’s glory in death!

Fight alongside me until death, destroying, ravaging, and eliminating the enemies!

We shall only wish for the death of our foes!

Recruitment Personnel

• 20 members for Northern Front Support Troops

Eligibility

• Those willing to dedicate their hearts for the Empire

• Those who do not wish to survive in battle

• Those who wish to be of help to the Empire even if they die tomorrow

Commander

• Operations Officer Lieutenant Daniel Steiner

• No combat experience, but more dedicated to the Empire than anyone else

Glory to the Empire!

Holy Bavarian Empire

Headquarters Recruitment Office for Frontline Support Troops

‘Done!’

What a masterpiece.

The wording about survival was completely absent, emphasizing only death!

Since the essence of being human is to strive for life, there wouldn’t be anyone who would want to die for the Empire.

Moreover, I had explicitly stated that the commander had no combat experience, so what fool would apply?

It was clear that soldiers who were comfortably living in the rear would scoff at this.

If that were the case, the application rate would plummet, and if I didn’t select from the very few applicants with various excuses, that would be the end of it.

Then Ernst would have no choice but to withdraw his plan to send me to the Northern Front.

The promotion would also be out of the question, so it would be killing two birds with one stone! After that, I could just find a way to be stuck in the headquarters and achieve an honorable discharge.

‘Genius!’

Satisfied, I smiled and headed to the personnel office with the notice.

–

The next day.

As I reported for duty and went about my work as usual, a polite knock sounded, and the door opened.

Looking up, I saw a personnel officer approaching me with a file.

“Lieutenant Daniel Steiner? About the notice you wanted delivered to the rear unit yesterday…”

Seeing that the personnel officer was holding only one file and nothing else, it seemed there were either no applicants or very few.

Thinking that the effect was better than I expected, I smiled inwardly, but I couldn’t show that in front of the personnel officer, so I feigned disappointment.

“It seems there are no soldiers willing to dedicate themselves to the Empire. What a disappointment.”

“Hmm? No, it’s the opposite.”

The opposite? Just as I was wondering what he meant, the personnel officer clapped his hands twice.

“Come in.”

Then, five soldiers entered, struggling under the weight of a mountain of application papers.

“Congratulations. In just one day, the number of applicants has surpassed 2,176. It seems there’s no need to recruit any further, so I came to find you. I thought it was a good notice, but I didn’t expect this much.”

The personnel officer praised me with a smile, but—

‘No, why are they applying…?’

I was simply dumbfounded.